The salon headliner tracks are installed, but before the Whisper Wall panels go in I need to install two stainless handrails on the cabin top. The hardware that attaches the rail ends to the cabin is hidden up behind the headliner material, so they have to go in before the headliner.
Access to the aft-most safety rail end hardware hole is easy
When you exit the helm area to the side decks, Chris Craft put stainless rails on the cabin sides. I like having something to grab onto there, so I’m sticking with the original approach.
The original hole is a good place to start
The center rail support and forward rail end are more complicated
The fasteners for both the center rail support and the rail end go through the cabin top above the headliner. So I had to scrape away a lot of spray foam insulation to get down to bare fiberglass.
Houston, we have a problem
I very carefully drilled the hole for the center support from the outside…and put it directly behind a salon ceiling overhead beam. That’s gonna complicate the install…
Time to put in rail hardware
Looks good!
Nice!
Good looking rail!
Custom hardware for the hidden bolt hole
I cut three of these 1-1/8″ long 1/4-20 pieces of stainless all-thread for the starboard side center rail support. The idea was to slide it in from the outside, put a fat washer and locknut on between the fiberglass and ceiling beam, then attach the chromed bronze OE center support. But every single time I got to the boat, I’d lose the part! I finally got sick of it and just used my fake Fein multipurpose tool and modified the end of the beam so a bolt with a head on it would fit.
Modified overhead beam didn’t lose any structural bits
Starboard side center rail support is installed
The last piece
Last step
Once I’d wrapped up the install, two of those stubby pieces of all-thread came out of hiding over the course of two weeks. I swear I’d checked everywhere, but to no avail. Then, after I’d modified the ceiling beam and installed the center support with a bolt, I reached for a tool or part and–LO AND BEHOLD!!–there’s the little piece of all-thread sitting right there in broad daylight. I suspect it’s just the goddess of the seas messing with me. I’d rather have her hiding fasteners temporarily than sending big storms my way, as I believe she’s done in the past. 😉
Next up in our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: The Salon Headliner Install Begins!
1969chriscraftroamer46 